Ajay Kumar Kakkar, Baron Kakkar, (born 28 April 1964) is an emeritus professor of surgery at University College London and life peer.

Early life and education

Ajay Kakkar was born in 1964 in Dartford to professor of vascular surgery Vijay Kakkar and his wife, a consultant anaesthetist. He was educated at Alleyn's School before gaining admission to King's College London, where he gained first a bachelor's degree in pharmacology in 1985 and then a medical degree in 1988. Subsequently, he was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree by Imperial College London; his thesis, titled "Tissue factor, thrombin generation and cancer", was submitted in 1998. His father was a pioneer in the use of low-molecular weight heparin therapy, and he followed in his footsteps as a surgeon and medical researcher.

Career

Kakkar is Chair of King's Health Partners, the Academic Health Science Centre, Director of the Thrombosis Research Institute, London, and lectures and publishes widely on his specialism. He has worked with the NHS on its strategy to prevent venous thromboembolism (VTE). He is a Commissioner of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, former chair of the Board of Governors at Alleyn's School, Dulwich, and a Trustee of the Dulwich Estate. In December 2022 he succeeded Bernard Taylor as chairman of the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851. Kakkar was created a life peer on 22 March 2010 as Baron Kakkar, of Loxbeare in the County of Devon, and introduced in the House of Lords the same day. He sits on the crossbenches. He was Chairman of the House of Lords Appointments Commission from 2013 to 2018. Kakkar has been noted for his work promoting British business as an ambassador for the United Kingdom. He took 11 trips in 2014 to promote business relations. He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to healthcare and for public service. Kakkar served as Chair of the Judicial Appointments Commission from 2016 to 2022. On St George's Day 2024, he was appointed Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter (KG).

Arms